P R O - B A D D

Todd James

Todd James

"California Shaker"

Todd was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, in 1963.He grew up on a dairy farm in Marcellus, MI and graduated from Ferris State University BSEET.

Todd has always been involved with 4x4 trucks – at first, playing in the mud out in fields.At age 22, in 1985, he began competing in Mud Bogs.He took a stock 4x4 truck and over time, modified it into a 1977 Chevy Stepside pickup with a 454 Chevy motor, 2 ½ ton military axles, 44” Ground Hawgs and 20” of lift.During the next few years, he competed in 15 different states and Mexico, with 8 different vehicles in many different classes including the 35” Class, Tractor Tire Class, Modified Class, and the Open Class.

The California Shaker was built while Todd was living in California.The name came about as a result of several earthquakes and aftershocks hitting the area while the car was being built.He designed and built the complete chassis and body.In July of 1992, after ten and a half months of work, California Shaker was ready to compete in the Nitrous Class, where it took 2nd place its first time out!After a successful run in the nitrous arena, Todd installed a blower motor in 1995.

California Shaker, is truly different than the norm, with a KB Olds, a 14-71 SSI Hi-Helix blower, custom design A-arms in the front and solid rear suspension, and is one of the few that has an automatic 2-speed Powerglide transmission.

Todd and his crew, Ron Davis, Herb Ward, Mark Schumacher, and Nick James, have competed in Mud and Sand Racing all across the Western and Midwest states and again in Mexico.

Since 2005, Todd, wife Susan, and kids Nick and Marissa have lived in Wayland, MI, where Todd works as a Production Manager.He continues to enjoy his hobbies of mud racing, snowmobiling and helping out on the family farm.